A variable amplitude database compilation of steel welded joints to compare various rulesets
conference paper
Bridges experience cyclic loading which may introduce fatigue damage and eventually lead to
fracture. To mitigate the related risks, several rulesets (incl. Eurocode, AASHTO and British Standard)
require a fatigue life prediction, typically based on S-N curves and the linear damage accumulation
of Palmgren-Miner. There are minor differences in terms of detail classification between standards,
but larger differences between the path of the S-N curve in the very long life regime. It is known
that the load spectrum has an influence on this regime due to load interaction and load sequence
effects. To study the variation in the very long life regime as a function of the spectrum and the
prediction accuracy of standards, this paper contains a compilation of variable amplitude fatigue
tests with spectra containing multiple realistic loading levels (excluding overload-CA sequences) on
steel welded joints. This database, obtained from literature, is supplemented with a prediction of
the fatigue life following the rulesets from BS 7608:2024, AASHTO, EN 1993-1-9:2005 and prEN
1993-1-9:2024. Next to this, it identifies knowledge gaps in terms of available reference data and
analysis methods.
fracture. To mitigate the related risks, several rulesets (incl. Eurocode, AASHTO and British Standard)
require a fatigue life prediction, typically based on S-N curves and the linear damage accumulation
of Palmgren-Miner. There are minor differences in terms of detail classification between standards,
but larger differences between the path of the S-N curve in the very long life regime. It is known
that the load spectrum has an influence on this regime due to load interaction and load sequence
effects. To study the variation in the very long life regime as a function of the spectrum and the
prediction accuracy of standards, this paper contains a compilation of variable amplitude fatigue
tests with spectra containing multiple realistic loading levels (excluding overload-CA sequences) on
steel welded joints. This database, obtained from literature, is supplemented with a prediction of
the fatigue life following the rulesets from BS 7608:2024, AASHTO, EN 1993-1-9:2005 and prEN
1993-1-9:2024. Next to this, it identifies knowledge gaps in terms of available reference data and
analysis methods.
TNO Identifier
1013901
Source title
IABSE Congress Ghent 2025 – The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society
Pages
1-10
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.